Zhao Song: My father was Emperor Taizu of Song

Chapter 82 Morale

"Your Highness, why don't we ask His Majesty for help..."

After hesitating for a moment, Shi Shouxin decided to give his honest advice:

"The Southern Tang army has assembled, and Lin Renzhao and Zheng Yanhua are both seasoned generals. Our army, on the other hand, has only 50,000 troops and is attacked from both sides. The situation is truly unfavorable for our army!"

These words were like a piercing of the window paper, and many generals in the tent echoed them, their expressions filled with anxiety.

In their view, Zhao Dezhao has completely failed this time.

The original pledge to "conquer Yangzhou in one day" was already a pipe dream.

Now that the puppet Tang dynasty has another 100,000 reinforcements pressing in, let alone fulfilling military orders, even taking Yangzhou, this tough nut to crack, has become impossible.

Not to mention that at that time, the army would be attacked from both sides by Li Chongjin and the Southern Tang army, and the army would be in danger of being wiped out.

Cao Bin stood to one side, his gaze frequently sweeping over Zhao Dezhao, his eyes filled with scrutiny, wanting to know what choice he would make.

Zhao Dezhao's gaze swept over the generals in the tent, observing their expressions of worry and fear, yet his tone remained calm:

"There's no need to mention seeking reinforcements again. My father entrusted the army to me because he trusts me to quell the rebellion. If I rely on seeking reinforcements for everything, what use am I as the commander-in-chief?"

"But Your Highness..." Shi Shouxin wanted to persuade him again, but Zhao Dezhao raised his hand to interrupt him.

"Gentlemen, heed my command!" Zhao Dezhao's voice suddenly rose, his still-childish tone revealing an undeniable authority. "Pass down the order: the entire army will rest immediately. Tonight at midnight, we will launch a full-scale attack on Yangzhou!"

"Your Highness, you mustn't!" All the generals were shocked. A young officer, his face filled with anxiety, stepped forward and bowed, urgently pleading, "The Tang reinforcements are not far from here. If our army is bogged down in a fierce siege, the reinforcements will arrive in an instant. We will be attacked from both sides, and our army will undoubtedly be defeated!"

"That's why we must breach the city tonight."

Zhao Dezhao's eyes were sharp, and he said in a deep voice, "Although the pseudo-Tang reinforcements have arrived, they will need time to cross the river and assemble."

"We must take Yangzhou before reinforcements arrive so that we can turn back to deal with the Southern Tang army."

He paused, his tone growing increasingly grave: "If Li Chongjin is given the opportunity to join forces with the Southern Tang reinforcements, we will be caught in a pincer movement, and our army will truly be in dire straits, with no chance of turning the tide!"

"Your Highness may be right, but how is it possible to take Yangzhou in one night?" The young officer still expressed his disagreement: "The puppet Tang reinforcements could reach Yangzhou in a single night's march. If they attacked from both sides, how would our army possibly cope?"

He had barely finished speaking when he added, his tone tinged with a hint of hesitation: "In my humble opinion, the best course of action is to temporarily avoid their sharp edge, retreat to Chuzhou, and request His Majesty's assistance!"

These words resonated with many, and many officers nodded secretly, their gazes toward Zhao Dezhao now showing a hint of wavering and disapproval.

Some even showed signs of fear and were considering giving up.

Under intense pressure, Zhao Dezhao's lack of prestige within the army was fully exposed!

His military orders simply could not be implemented.

Zhao Dezhao understood, but he didn't look at him. Instead, he looked at Shi Shouxin and said, "General Shi, since His Majesty has appointed me as commander-in-chief, shall I be in charge of all matters in the army?"

"This..." Shi Shouxin hesitated, but still bowed and said, "Yes!"

"Since that's the case..."

Zhao Dezhao turned back expressionlessly, his gaze sweeping over the generals in the tent, and once again sternly ordered: "The entire army shall rest immediately. At midnight, we will attack the city!"

However, these words still caused a stir inside the tent.

Many officers looked at each other, their faces showing reluctance, clearly still harboring concerns.

The young officer bowed again, saying, "Your Highness, please reconsider! This order could lead to the death of the entire army; it must not be done!"

Zhao Dezhao's eyes suddenly turned cold, chilling him to the bone. He slowly looked at Shi Shouxin and asked, word by word, "General Shi, let me ask you, if a general disobeys an order from the commander-in-chief, what is the punishment under military law?"

"This... Now that the general has received his orders and holds supreme command of the campaign, he will reward the troops in the field, and after the campaign is over, he will issue his orders. Those who disobey will be killed. Commander Ma's words are correct..."

Before Shi Shouxin could finish speaking, a crisp sound of a sword being drawn suddenly rang out from inside the tent!

"Clang!"

A flash of sword light!

The young officer who had been repeatedly persuaded to retire immediately clutched his neck and collapsed to the ground. Before he died, his eyes were wide open, staring at Zhao Dezhao in disbelief.

"Your Highness!!"

The generals were immediately shocked and took a step back in unison, instinctively placing their hands on the hilts of their swords at their waists, staring at Zhao Dezhao with horrified expressions.

"Violating military law and disobeying orders is punishable by death!"

Holding a blood-dripping dagger, Zhao Dezhao's gaze swept coldly over the generals in the tent, his voice as icy as ice: "Gentlemen, are you going to disobey orders?!"

At the same time, Li Chuyun and Jing Si arrived in front of Zhao Dezhao without any hesitation. With a swift movement, they blocked Zhao Dezhao's path, their hands on the hilts of their swords, their eyes warily fixed on the generals in the tent, their whole bodies exuding a murderous aura.

As long as Zhao Dezhao gives the order, they will not hesitate to draw their swords!

"Calm down, everyone!!"

Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Shi Shouxin could no longer sit still. He immediately roared with a livid face and stood between the two sides.

He first gave a stern, admonishing look to the generals behind him, then said in a deep voice:

"His Majesty has decreed that the eldest prince is the commander-in-chief, and all matters concerning the army shall be decided by him. Are you disregarding His Majesty's decree with your actions?!"

It must be said that Zhao Kuangyin's name was indeed very effective in the army.

Upon hearing the name "Zhao Kuangyin," the generals calmed down. They slowly released their hands from the hilts of their swords, their faces still showing shock, but now filled with awe. They looked at Zhao Dezhao with suspicion and uncertainty.

Only now did they truly realize that the child before them was not only the eldest son of the emperor, but also the commander-in-chief who held the emperor's decree and the power of life and death.

Seeing that the situation had stabilized somewhat, Zhao Dezhao raised his hand to push aside Jing Si and Li Chuyun in front of him, stepped forward, and softened his tone:

"How could I not know how difficult this battle is? Yangzhou is fortified, the enemy is powerful, and reinforcements are on their way. Each of these factors could put our army in a desperate situation."

His gaze swept over the generals in the tent, and he spoke with an air of self-assurance:

"However, I, Zhao Dezhao, as the commander-in-chief of the three armies, will not allow you to fight alone!"

"Tonight at midnight, I will personally lead eight hundred guards as the vanguard, ready to fight to the death to scale the city walls!"

Having said that, Zhao Dezhao bowed again, his tone solemn and sincere:

"Tonight's battle is crucial to the overall situation. If we win, I will report to my father, the Emperor, and request rewards for all of you. I will certainly not treat you unfairly, and we will all share in the riches and honors."

"If we are defeated, I will be the first to die, carrying the torch for you all on the road to the underworld, and I will not yield even a single step!"

These words struck the hearts of the generals like a heavy hammer, and their expressions were all slightly moved.

Back then, Zhao Kuangyin was the same; he always took the lead in every battle!

Therefore, they were fearless when they followed Zhao Kuangyin to conquer cities and seize territories!

For a moment, they seemed to see the shadow of Zhao Kuangyin in Zhao Dezhao.

Seeing this, Zhao Dezhao pressed his advantage, bowing deeply once more: "I hope everyone will join me in this effort, giving our all to conquer Yangzhou!"

"I am willing to follow Your Highness and conquer Yangzhou!"

Li Chuyun and Shi Shouxin were the first to respond, and the other generals followed suit. Having initially hesitated, they dared not further hesitate upon seeing the corpse lying in a pool of blood, and could only bow down together, saying:

"Only as His Highness orders!"

Seeing that the morale of the troops had been temporarily stabilized, Zhao Dezhao breathed a sigh of relief and then gave the following instructions:

"Gentlemen, you may dispense with the formalities and go to prepare your troops for battle. Assemble at the drill ground at midnight!"

……